My stepmom, Rita, died today a little before 11am after a long battle with lung cancer. She spent the last week in the hospital and I was texting my stepsister when she died, making plans to come visit tomorrow (the hospital is about 3 hours away). I missed seeing her and telling her goodbye by less than 24 hours. I was sitting in the training class for my new job, chatting with my coworkers about our new schedules. Then my dad called and left me a voicemail...I checked it and started crying. Bless my coworkers and my trainer and my boss...people offered to drive me home and my trainer and boss told me to simply go and take the time I needed and they would get me caught up on the training. I am so grateful for their understanding but I still plan to be back at work as soon as I am able. Thankfully we have a 3-day weekend for Memorial Day this weekend so I can spend some time with my family.

So now I am home, sitting in the cool quiet and nursing my aching head and heart. I only knew Rita for a handful of years, but she honestly was like a second mother to me and her daughters and I are just like the closest sisters. On top of that, she was a wonderfully strong and amazing person and also so incredibly kind to me, my dad, and my grandma. I saw her last in the second week of April and she was very sick, but she still smiled all the time and was so happy to see me. I'm going to miss her terribly.

I know that my sisters will all be okay. They inherited their mother's strength and all her great qualities and they have each other and their families to support them. I'm a little worried about how dad will cope with losing her, but I have yet to see him so I'm trying not to worry too much until then. My grandma will be fine, as she always has been. I have my family and my job and I will be fine too. Right now I am just tired and very sad. Writing this has helped some but now I'm going to rest and prepare for my trip to see my family in Dallas.

I may be gone for a couple of days starting this evening, but I'll catch up with everything when I can. Take care everyone.

[EDIT 05.26.12] As it turns out, my own mother is going out of town for a week starting this Monday, so I'm staying in town one more day with her before leaving for Dallas to be with the rest of my family. We're going to get some fresh flowers today to make a corsage for Rita. The visitation is going to be Sunday night from 6pm-8pm and the funeral service will be Monday at 10am. I'll be going to Dallas early Sunday morning and staying the night with my grandma and dad. I've just replied to all the comments...thank you all so much for all of your support, prayers, and good thoughts. [/EDIT]